The BGN News Archive

On the wall at the Sound Museum by Dave Tree

The Sound Museum has official closed. Move out was this past week ... and there is no replacement space, or even a temporary space for the tenants, as was promised by the owners of the building. Tenants moving out posted photos on Facebook or walls painted with messages and statements about the sad affair in general.

Katherine and Des Desmond have created One Voice, a nonprofit to present a unified voice for all musicians. Here's the Mission Statement. It’s all about trying to get leverage in dealing with real estate companies and politicians who hold the strings. Katherine and Des are using every trick in the book and making up some new ones too.

Check out the new Sound Museum Boston Website here (and sign up for newsletters), and The Sound Museum on Facebook and Instagram

Vanyaland spoke to the Desmonds and you can read that here.

The Young Turks had a podcast about the Sound Museum with Dave Tree and Scott Matalon in a Zoom interview. See below.

Scott and Dave bring up the artists point of view and it’s not pretty. There's eye opening, jaw dropping list of wrong doing on the site. This situation has exposed the stark difference between money people and the creative community. The artists are mad and you can hear that in this podcast. The podcast on YouTube is above.

Save The Sound Museum has been created to also be a voice of the musicians and to tell the truth of the situation. They have a petition you can sign to show your support. Visit Save The Sound Museum and sign the petition.

Zippah Studios' Brian Charles announced that he's signed all the paper work to purchase a new space for Zippah!! It's in Central Square Cambridge on Brookline St. The spot was previously Andy Hong's Tape Op studios. Zippah Studios in burned down in December, 2021. Charles says that "Andy has been incredibly gracious, gifting me tape machines, racks, acoustical equipment and other studio related items (espresso machine!). I will continue to work at the fab studios around town until construction is completed." Congrats Brian!!

The Celebration of the Life of Michael Weddle at The C Note in Hull show is set for Saturday, April 8th. Weddle, who passed last year, booked many shows at The C Note, including the Rat Beach Party nights. It’s Saturday April 8 and starting at 3PM. Playing are Tsunami of Sound and Tokyo Tramps, Kenne Highland Air Force, Mad Painter, Joe Viglione. Facebook event page

Here's another history lesson for us all....Punk and Porn in New York City – Part 1: Elda Stiletto, Warhol, Glitter Rock, and the Birth of Blondie on the Rialto Report.

The story is supposed to be about Elda Stiletto, who formed the group The Stilettos, the band Deborah Harry was in just previous to Blondie. Photo of Edna and Blondie to the right. This article goes through Elda’s life/career in the Warhol circle and the back room at Max’s Kansas City, her time making porn films and ultimately reuniting The Stilettos. But it's about SO much more, it's about the burgeoning NYC punk scene with comments by everyone involved. It turns out that no one thought much of Blondie in the earliest days. Richard Hell comments on that: "Hardly anyone took Blondie seriously. They had a bland, occasionally quirky, urban girl-group style, but were primarily an excuse to look at their stunningly pretty singer." Also quoted are Chris Stein, Debbie Harry, Syl Sylvain, Holly Woodlawn, Danny Fields and a bunch of others. It then spends a lot of time about her porn career. The Blog is heavy on photos. See it here

International Pop Overthrow is happening in Boston this year, on November 15 through 18, at the Square Root in Roslindale. Anklin Dan will be handling the Square Root shows. The International Pop Overthrow website IPO Facebook page

The Station night club fire happened twenty years ago, in 2003. It pays to remember the incident and the lesson. A fire started because of pyrotechnics on stage. People couldn’t get out of the club. 100 people died. Because of that all night clubs in Massachusetts now have sprinkler systems. Those people didn’t die in vain, things are safer now because of that improvement. There's now a memorial in West Warwick, RI at the site of the club.

We remember the Toilet Boys doing their fire breathing act at the club Church just a few months before the Station fire. Yikes!! The story is in the Globe if you can get by the paywall

In our ongoing series of Johnny D's Allston Closing Night ... we have this week Installment #SIX with Scruffy The Cat from Bob Martel (aka Bob Cellar) - Ten bands and Bill Tupper as MC....those were the days folks and these are never heard before audio recordings of Johnny D's closing night! Let this be a history of Boston punk for you if you were not there!!

The SIXth band: Scruffy The Cat - Listen to it here.

For some visuals here is the BGN photo coverage of Johnny D's closing night and the BGN coverage of the 2010 Johnny D's Reunion at Church.

BOOKS......

There’s a new book that has a series of 1994 interview with Joey and Johnny of The Ramones. Gabba Gabba Hey! Conversations with the Ramones is by Carl Cafarelli who's written lots of rock books especially in the power pop field.

They say: “This is that story: a career-spanning discussion of the Ramones' career, an intimate glimpse at how the Ramones viewed their work, their experiences, their impact, their legacy, their fans, and each other. It's a unique and fascinating peek into what it was like to be one of the few, the proud, the Ramones.”

Order it on the Rare Bird website

The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth is a 650 page book on the history of Goth by John Robb who was the bass player for The Membranes and runs the Louder Than War website. "This definitive book is a journey deep into The Art Of Darkness. The first in-depth book on Goth is a deepdive into the enduring culture and the social, historical and political backdrop that created the space for the art of darkness to thrive."

Robb spent a decade writing and running down people for interviews. There are interviews with Andrew Eldritch, Killing Joke, Bauhaus, The Cult, The Banshees, The Damned, Einstürzende Neubauten, Johnny Marr, Trent Reznor, Adam Ant, Laibach, The Cure, Nick Cave, and many more. It comes out in March. You can order through Rough Trade. The book starts with the fall of Rome and ends with Instagram and Tik Tok influencers and takes diversions through Lord Byron, European folk tales, Indian Sadhus, Gothic architecture, Romantic poets, philosophers and idealists before coalescing through the dark end of etc the sixties youthquake and then blooming like Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs Du Mal in the post-punk period. Whoa it covers it ALL!

You can pre-order the book here.

VIDEOS......

Someone videoed the Color Killer set at Square Root. Here it is. Twenty eight minutes of it. They are only getting better with age!!

Girl With a Hawk now have a sympathetic video to go along with the sensitive “Same Stars” song. It’s another successful vid by Joan Hathaway who knows how to get the images that relate to the songs essential message. The video, the song, the vocal and the band’s performance are a seamless unit.

RADIO......

This week Ron on his Monday Late Risers Show played a cover of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” from the group Guerilla Poubelle from the compilation Whiskey Dancing: Twelve 80s Hits Revisited on the Slow Death label. The group puts more power and rage into the song than we’ve ever heard or expected. This is from 2005.

To hear Ron’s whole show go to the WMBR Archive page and hit the link on the Monday 10am show for Feb 20.

On Tuesday David Greene did the revolving veteran DJ slot on the Late Risers Club. A lot of people played the obvious Television cuts in memory of Verlaine, David dug a bit deeper and got a prime live 1978 live cut “Ain’t That Nothin’” from Live at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco. Here it is on YouTube.

He also played “Stupid Kids” by Christmas. We haven’t heard that great one in a long time! Here it is on YouTube .

The hear David’s whole show go to the WMBR Archive page and hit the link on the Tuesday 10am show for Feb 21.

The Stigmatics were on A Crash Course for the Ravers on Saturday 2/25. They opened with a Billy Borgioli song. The group’s new drummer Dan McCarthy played with Billy. “American Dream” was a standout song.

Listen to the archive version by going to the WMFO Schedule page and hitting A Crash Course for the Ravers at 1pm then hit the archive button.

PODCASTS.........

200 shows! Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico logged in their 200th show this last week. The show is good one featuring John Sox and Steve Grimes of the FUs.

John had a great story about answering the Al Barile of SSD ad to be a singer in a punk band. Another early story was Kenne Highland giving him a few hardcore records that started his punk record collection.

The FUs played a lot of early shows with Gang Green and SSD. John said that Gang Green was so young that when they played the Rat they had to go in the back door right to the stage, do the set and then immediately out the back door again.

The FUs/Straw Dogs have a long and interesting history and Steev gets to a lot of it. Glad to find out that Steve Grimes has a Doctorate in Geology!

NEW MUSIC/CDs......

Weakened by Civilization is the latest album by Horrible Earth. It’s savage grindcore. The guitars sound tuned down and there is throat singing. The musicianship is top notch. The playing is fast and precise. Most songs are between 30 seconds and a minute.

It will satisfy your craving for the hard stuff.

Rhino Records is re-releasing a nine vinyl album set of the Velvet Underground’s album Loaded (The Fully Re-Loaded edition). Right off – it includes seven versions of “Sweet Jane”!! It has three different mixes of the album plus outtakes, demos and live recordings.

It's is limited to 1,970 numbered copies and will be available on March 24 from Rhino. The set is available exclusively at Rhino.com and comes in a deluxe, foil-wrapped slipcase containing the vinyl, a poster of the album’s cover art, and an illustrated booklet with liner notes by Lenny Kaye from the 45th anniversary edition in 2015.

In addition to the nine LPs, the set also comes with four 7-inches that reproduce the official singles and B-sides. WOW!!!

It looks too good to cry ‘rip off.’ I mean we want it. Check out the Louder website to see the song list and you can go to Rhino to pre-order for a mere $249.98.

It’s an ego boost in a way to see groups you love get attention from the next generation. The Buzzcocks music is as fresh today as the day it was made. Vice Squad must think so too., they cover “Love You More” and released it this month. It’s a straight cover but sounds just different enough. They keep that classic ending….”until the razor cuts”.

Here's some good shows coming up .....

February 27, 2023 (Monday) The Roland High Life, Tiffy, Sorry Ma at Charlie's Kitchen

February 27, 2023 (Monday) Jesus Camp, Rawstrum, White Bear Principle, Bomb Pack at O'Brien's

February 28, 2023 (Tuesday) Suicide Squirrels, Acute Madness, Authentic Dissent, DnA's Evolution at The Midway

March 3, 2023 (Friday) Actor|Observer, In Good Nature at Free Street - Portland, ME

March 3, 2023 (Friday) The Ballbusters’(featuring ex-Classic Ruins Jeff Crane and current Classic Ruins drummer Dave Kowalcek) monthly residency at Worcester rock club The Raven rolls on. The sixth lineup has opener “Country Steve” Merrow doing an acoustic set, followed by The Ballbusters, and headliner Musclecah (featuring ex-Ballbusters Chris and Cathy Cah).

March 4, 2023 (Saturday) The Dogmatics are on A Crash Course For The Ravers on WMFO 1-3PM. And if you haven't yet, check out our interview with Rudy Childs who made the Dogmatics Dogumentary!

March 4, 2023 (Saturday) Randy Black & The Heathcroppers have a First Saturday of Every Month 4-6PM residency at Plough & Stars

March 4, 2023 (Saturday) Pretty Late, Burp, Dead Trains, Austin Bullock at The Midway (night show)

March 4, 2023 (Saturday) Actor|Observer, In Good Nature at Taffeta in Lowell, MA

March 4, 2023 (Saturday) Corin Ashley & Anthony Kaczynski at The Village Social Club in Brookline FB page.

March 5, 2023 (Sunday) "I Am Not Gone" A Tribute To Asa Brebner LIVE - The Burren - Facebook page

March 5, 2023 (Sunday) Actor|Observer, In Good Nature at Alchemy. Provi, RI

March 6, 2023 (Monday) Key of Caustic, Degenerates of Punk, Burp at The Silhouette

March 7, 2023 (Tuesday) Punk Rock Aerobics at Faces, Malden - 6:30-7:30PM bring a mat!!

March 8, 2023 (Wednesday) The Tossers, The Gobshites, Rogue March - Middle East Up

March 10, 2023 (Friday) Freqs, Mollusk, Hotel Black, Knock Over City at The Jungle

March 10, 2023 (Friday) The Scratch, The Downhauls, Scumbari - Middle East Up

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Chris Wagner (Modern Day Idols) solo at Village Social Club in Brookline. 8-10pm

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Grayskull Booking & Hardcore Stadium present Slapshot, Crown of Thornz, Risk, Neighborhood Shit at The Middle East Down

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Enemies List Big Band, Luxury Deathtrap, The Addition, High and Dry at The Midway

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Linnea’s Garden, Soraia, Justine and The Unclean, The Idiot Kids at The Jungle

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Jim Healey, The Chelsea Curve, David Harrison & Uncle Jay at Fields West, Allston

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Pre St Patty's Day Bash with Worm, Pint Killers, C.O.B., Far Above the ground, The Woods, Dogs in The Woods at The C Note, Hull. 7:30PM. FB page.

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Sly Fang, Hammered Saint, The Jacklights at Koto in Salem

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Grave Tripper, Swarm Catcher, Arch Druid at Shred City (52 Main St #3, Wilmington)

March 16, 2023 (Friday) Feep, Zigmont, Today Junior at Notch Brighton - FREE- 7PM - just bring some shelf staple foods to donate

March 17, 2023 (Saturday) St. Patrick's Day Punk Rock Market. There will be bands, food and vendors include Skindress Taxidermy! Vendors start at 6pm and bands at 7:30pm. It’s at the VFW Fidelity Post #1011, 20 Stevens St, Peabody, MA - Facebook event page

March 17, 2023 (Saturday) St. Pat's Shit Show with Vomit Dolls, Fish Face, Set The Bar Low, TFR, Throw - at Shred City (52 Main St #3, Wilmington)

March 17, 2023 (Saturday) Gretchen & The Banshees and Dunk Kennedys (Dead Kennedys tribute) at Exhibit A Brewery in Framingham. 7-9PM

March 18, 2023 (Saturday) Field Day Cold Expectations, the I Want Yous at The Square Root

March 18, 2023 (Saturday) Modern Day Idols, Speedfossil, If We Go At All at Central Tavern in Milford. 8pm-11:30PM

March 18, 2023 (Saturday) The F.U.’s, Cuidado, Duck & Cover, Black Helicopter at the Gerry No. 5 Veteran Fireman's Association, Marblehead - FB page.

March 18, 2023 (Saturday) Caustic Echoes, I The Conqueror and more at Shred City (52 Main St #3, Wilmington)

March 18, 2023 (Saturday) The Mach Bell Experience, The Cynz, Tiger Bomb at Geno's in Portland ME.

March 19, 2023 (Sunday) Barroom Heroes, COB, Degenerates of Punk, Taken by Vultures, Already Dead - 3:00pm matinee at The Midway- FB page

March 20, 2023 (Monday) Blame It On Whitman, Senseless Optimism, Dewley & Traders at The Silhouette

March 20, 2023 (Monday) Vanishing Point, Ruffian Dick, A River Of Trees, Captain Easychord at The Midway

March 23, 2023 (Friday) Sweetie, Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Twelveyes at Notch Brighton - FREE!! just bring some shelf staple foods to donate

March 24, 2023 (Friday) Band Hangouts with Severed Boy, Knock Over City, BedTimeMagic, Casket Rats at Bone Up Brewing Company in Everett. FB Page.

March 24, 2023 (Friday) TREE @ Ralph's Rock Diner - FB page

March 24, 2023 (Friday) Modern Day Idols at Exhibit A Brewing In Framingham. 7-9pm

March 25, 2023 (Saturday) Condition Baker, Classic Ruins, The Grandstand Jockeys, Sand Machine at The Midway for a Matinee 3-7PM

March 25, 2023 (Saturday) Baabes, Linnea's Garden at Sally O'Brien's

March 25, 2023 (Saturday) The Freqs, Deprogrammer Cult, Rue, Ghost Planet at The Worthen Attic, Lowell

March 30, 2023 (Thursday) Modern Day Idols, Powderhouse at Notch Brighton 7-9:30PM - FREE just bring some shelf staple foods to donate

March 31, 2023 (Friday) The Church - The Hypnogogue Album Tour at The Sinclair FB page.

March 31, 2023 (Friday) Blindspot, Mindset X at The Shackskeen Pub Manchester, NH

April 1, 2023 (Saturday) Holy S%&T I'm turning 60 - Jay Allen's Birthday Show with Justine and The Unclean, Tom Baker's Double Down, Muck and The Mires, Stop Calling Me Frank, The Shang-Hi-Los, The Spackles (Ex-A Bunch of Jerks), Jay Allen and The Archcriminals, Spiller, The Dogmatics, Quest for Tuna at French Club, Waltham, MA, 5pm to Midnight- FB page

April 1, 2023 (Saturday) Diablogato, Coffin Salesman, Casket Rats at Faces Brewing Malden FB page.

April 1, 2023 (Saturday) Children Of The Flaming Wheel, OOF(NYC), Germ House at Fields West Allston

April 5, 2023 (Wednesday) Matt Charette, Linnea's Garden, Lobohombres, Time & Place at The Silhouette

April 8, 2023 (Saturday) Randy Black & The Heathcroppers have a First Saturday of Every Month 4-6PM residency at Plough & Stars

April 8, 2023 (Saturday) Hobo Wizard, EZ Cheef, Grave Tripper, Unharrowed at Shred City (52 Main St #3, Wilmington)

April 8, 2023 (Saturday) Screamin' Rebel Angels, Diablogato, Helen & The Trash Pandas at Askew, Providence, RI - FB page

April 10, 2023 (Monday) The Hi-End, The Haymakers, Jay Allen and the Arch Criminals at the Silhouette in Allston

April 14, 2023 (Friday) Hambone Skinny at The Square Root

April 14, 2023 (Friday) Glowbox, Speedfossil, Girl with a Hawk - music starts at 8PM at Sally O'Brien's

April 15, 2023 (Saturday) Cold Expectations (Record Release Show), Hammered Saint, Butterknife at The Square Root

April 15, 2023 (Saturday) Harris, Sidewalk Driver, Stars Like Ours, Aaron and the Lord at The Crystal Ballroom - FB page.

April 20, 2023 (Thursday) Black Flag at the Middle East Down - 2 sets- Set 1 the band performs the album My War, Set 2 - Blag Flag classics. $30 TIX here FB page

April 20, 2023 (Thursday) Gang Green, The USM (a full member reunion), Far Above The Ground Grip Bite at Alchemy in Provi, RI. Doors at 7, Music at 8- FB page.

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) The Thigh Scrapers, Mad Painter, The Stigmatics, Johnny Plankton & the Sea Monkeys of Sole at The Jungle - a matinee show - 3:30 PM – 7:15 PM. FB page.

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) Welch Boys, Loser's Circle, ChumHuffer, Cry Havoc, Scumbari at The Midway for a Matinee at 3PM

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) White Dynomite, Casket Rats, The Long Wait at Garage B at The Speedway by Notch - 8:30 music - FB page.

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) Lenny Lashley, Centrist Class Traitor, Already Dead, Time and Place at Fields West, Allston

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) Answerman, The Grubs, The Love Shamans at Faces Brewing in Malden - FB page

April 23, 2023 (Sunday) Villain of the War, SleepJumper, Today Junior, Jiddo at The Silhouette

April 23, 2023 (Sunday) Plymouth Punk Rock Market - Spring 2023 edition! Mayflower Brewery Plymouth - FB page to keep up to date.

April 24, 2023 (Monday) Waiver Wire, Stay In Nothing(UK), Indoor Friends, The Dreamtoday at The Silhouette

April 28, 2023 (Friday) Emo Night Karaoke with live backing band & special guest Monica Whitlock at Middle East - Downstairs.

April 29, 2023 (Saturday) Brunt of It, Hans Gruber & The Die Hards, Nick & The Adversaries, Sgt Scag at The Midway - FB page

April 29, 2023 (Saturday) Jeff Rowe, Matt Charette, Hall Monitor & Mike Moderski at Fields West, Allston

April 29, 2023 (Saturday) TOLAs, The Modern Day Idols, Glowbox at The Square Root

April 30, 2023 (Sunday) Scream Along With Billy - Lou Reed’s Berlin - Once at The Rockwell - 7PM. Tickets

April 30, 2023 (Sunday) Gorilla Biscuits, With Honor, Gel, Peace Test, Anklebiter, Bulletproof Backpack at The Met - Pawtucket, RI. All Ages - Early show 2PM- 10PM - FB page

May 1, 2023 (Monday) Mill Pond Falls, Norris The Terrible, Modern Day Idols, Jim Healey at The Silhouette

May 5, 2023 (Friday) Township and Stars Like Ours at The Burren - 7PM FB page.

May 6, 2023 (Saturday) Randy Black & The Heathcroppers have a First Saturday of Every Month 4-6PM residency at Plough & Stars

May 6, 2023 (Saturday) Dark Spring Boston Festival at The Middle East Down - line up coming - FB page.

May 6, 2023 (Saturday) Alexander, Tuxis Giant, Housefires & Al Z (Tatooine Punk Scene) at Fields West, Allston

May 10, 2023 (Wednesday) The White Bear Principle, FEEP, Nightvisions at The Silhouette

May 12, 2023 (Friday) MOD NITE with The Sharp Class (UK); Chelsea Curve, Tiger Bomb, Muck & The Mires, DJ Sherman at Geno's Portland, ME- FB page

May 13, 2023 (Saturday) Muck and The Mires, The Chelsea Curve, Sharp Class, Tiger Bomb at The Jungle - FB page

May 13, 2023 (Saturday) Kepi Ghoulie with his best lineups ever! Bface on bass and Atom Bomb on drums at Faces, Malden - TIX

May 19, 2023 (Saturday) The Downhauls EP Release! at The Lizard Lounge - more info to come on the FB page.

May 24, 2023 (Wednesday) Doom Lover, Thrust Club, Daphne Blue Underground, Really Great at The Silhouette

June 1, 2023 (Thursday) Gretchen Shea and The Middle Eight, Detroit Rebellion, Stubborn Hearts at Notch Brighton FREE but RSVP here and bring some shelf stable food to donate.

June 8, 2023 (Thursday) Tysk Tysk Task, PiNKLIDS, Trash Rabbit at Notch Brighton FREE but RSVP hereand bring some shelf stabe efood to donate.

June 21, 2023 (Wednesday) Lupo Citta, Valley of Weights, Nat Freedberg at The Silhouette

June 26, 2023 (Monday) Gretchen Shea And The Middle Eight, Salem Wolves, Luxury Deathtrap at The Silhouette

June 26, 2023 (Monday) The Murder Junkies 30 Year GG Deathaversary Tour (Playing a full set of all old GG songs) with local lineup Psycho, Midnight Creeps, Scümbari - At Alchemy, Provi, RI Doors 7pm Music 7:30pm - FB page.

August 19 & 20, 2023 (Sat & Sun) In Between Days Festival - 2 Stages, 2 Days, 24 bands ... and Cool Vintage and Local Market Place, Vinyl Record Pop Up Shop, Food, Modest Mouse , Weakened Friends, Paper Tigers, Clarissa Johnson, Dutch Tulips and the South Shore’s own Gypsy Moths. You'll want to get your tickets now because they have a ‘tier’ system. They have some "tier" ticket scheme so the longer you wait the higher the ticket prices are. FB page

October 11, 2023 (Wednesday) The Mission UK & The Chameleons: Deja Vu Tour 2022 Rescheduled to 2023!!! also on the bill Theatre of Hate

CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com Send us your gig listings, your anything else you've got!! You want your CD reviewed?? Contact us for that too.